--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Folly enlarges men's desires while it…" description: "\"Folly enlarges men's desires while it lessens their capacities.\" — Robert South" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/robert-south-15753_capacity_folly-enlarges-men-s-desires-while-it-le_2232794.jpg" --- # Folly enlarges men's desires while it lessens their… ![“Folly enlarges men's desires while it lessens their capacities.” quote by Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/robert-south-15753_capacity_folly-enlarges-men-s-desires-while-it-le_2232794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/robert-south-15753_capacity_folly-enlarges-men-s-desires-while-it-le_2232794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/robert-south-15753_capacity_folly-enlarges-men-s-desires-while-it-le_2232794.jpg) > “Folly enlarges men's desires while it lessens their capacities.” [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire grows beyond ability when folly expands ambitions, leading to overreach and failure. **In simple terms:** Folly makes us want more than we can handle. Key Takeaway Check limits before expanding desires. Themes ambition folly capacity overreach Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political ambition - personal goal setting - resource management Key Concepts human nature psychology limitations Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance desire with realistic capacity? - What checks prevent overextension? A Different Perspective Folly can also inspire innovation if managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [After the demands of the ego and its greed surrendered, the struggle for fulfillment of personal desires lessens; life takes on a new zest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda-radha-saraswati/after-the-demands-of-the-ego-and-its-greed-surrendered-the-struggle/) Sivananda Radha Saraswati > [“Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of men's desires, but by the removal of desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/freedom-is-secured-not-by-the-fulfilling-of-men-s-desires-but-by-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [It is not because men's desires are strong that they act ill; it is because their consciences are weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/it-is-not-because-men-s-desires-are-strong-that-they-act-ill-it-is/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Democracy is the worst form of government. 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